Two cranes fly by my office window each day. Always the pair flying side by side. North in the morning, heading out for the day. South in the late afternoon, going back home. I find myself watching for them. They're part of my day. Beautiful Sandhills. I’m always happy to see them; such graceful elegant birds.

Sandhills in Flight by Keith Stokes

The Ainu call them Sarorun Chikap "the bird among the tall grasses".

Sandhill Cranes by Amber Coakley

To the Japanese cranes represent longevity and good fortune. Perhaps they’ll share some good fortune with us all.

“Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more.” Vincent van Gogh

Today was the first truly warm spring day. 65 degrees and sunny. It was impossible to stay indoors. So I headed out with my camera looking for fresh inspiration. This is what I found. They really do make me want to take up my brushes and start painting.

I'm happy to have been able to donate prints and original paintings to United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County's Annual Banquet and Auction for the last 4 years! UCP does good work in our community. You can read more about it below in this article from their Spring 2012 Newletter.

WMTV Channel 15s Leigh Mills and John Stofflet

UCP's 25th Annual Celebrity Banquet and AuctionThe 25th annivesary (sic) of United Cerebral Palsy's Anual (sic) Celebrity Banquet and Auction was a great success, raising a record-breaking $75,000 to support UCP's programs and services. Over 40 local celebrities delivered food, drinks and entertainment to nearly 200 guests while raising funds for UCP.The evening program began with a heartfelt welcome by United Cerebral Palsy's executive director, Camilla Rucinski, and was followed by a touching video of Stella, a child who received services from UCP's Birth to 3 program. Her parents spoke about the positive impact UCP has had and how grateful they are for UCP's support in their family's life. Emceed by Dan Smith of Triangle Media Works, the event's celebrityservers included television news and radio personalities, community figures and numerous UW athletes. Celebrity games and competitions were energetic and entertaining, including UW Football's Monte Ball's push-up competition and WISC Channel 3's Andy Choi's, impromptu performance of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."As the signature fundraiser for UCP, the Celebrity Banquet is fundamental to the continued service of over 1,400 individuals in our community every year. It is thanks to the support of our celebrity servers, the sponsors for the evening, our numerous volunteers and guests, that UCP carries on the tradition of support for the children, youth and families we serve throughout our community.